Sacramento Republic FC’s kickoff to the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup ended with several El Farolito players rushing into the stands to confront fans on Wednesday.The Republic hosted El Farolito at Cal Expo’s Heart Health Park, maintaining their record of never losing the first round in the tournament. The match marked 16-year-old Da’vian Kimbrough’s first career start alongside two other homegrown players from the club’s academy, Blake Willey and Chibi Ukaegbu. Another academy player, Rohan Chivukula, later joined the match but his debut was cut short after being injured on the pitch. The match was characterized by physical and chippy play, with neither team able to score in the first half. Sacramento kept pressure on the net, with Danny Vitiello, who already has a couple of clean sheets in the USL Championship season, performing dynamically in goal.The match required extra time for the Republic to take the lead. Forster Ajago scored off a cross from Dominik Wanner with a header in front of the goal in the first extra time period. Ajago next got a brace in the second half of extra time by blocking a clearance by El Farolito’s goalkeeper that sent the ball into the goal to secure the win.But after the goal, a midfield melee erupted, with both teams clashing and tempers flaring.The pushing and shoving led to the referee issuing red cards to both teams. In all, there were 13 misconduct calls, including three ejections. The situation escalated when a few El Farolito players entered the stands in heated confrontations with fans, following their loss. There were no reports of injuries. KCRA 3 has reached out to U.S. Soccer for comment.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Sacramento Republic FC’s kickoff to the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup ended with several El Farolito players rushing into the stands to confront fans on Wednesday.

The Republic hosted El Farolito at Cal Expo’s Heart Health Park, maintaining their record of never losing the first round in the tournament.

The match marked 16-year-old Da’vian Kimbrough’s first career start alongside two other homegrown players from the club’s academy, Blake Willey and Chibi Ukaegbu. Another academy player, Rohan Chivukula, later joined the match but his debut was cut short after being injured on the pitch.

The match was characterized by physical and chippy play, with neither team able to score in the first half.

Sacramento kept pressure on the net, with Danny Vitiello, who already has a couple of clean sheets in the USL Championship season, performing dynamically in goal.

The match required extra time for the Republic to take the lead. Forster Ajago scored off a cross from Dominik Wanner with a header in front of the goal in the first extra time period.

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Ajago next got a brace in the second half of extra time by blocking a clearance by El Farolito’s goalkeeper that sent the ball into the goal to secure the win.

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You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

But after the goal, a midfield melee erupted, with both teams clashing and tempers flaring.

The pushing and shoving led to the referee issuing red cards to both teams.

In all, there were 13 misconduct calls, including three ejections.

The situation escalated when a few El Farolito players entered the stands in heated confrontations with fans, following their loss.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

U.S. Open Cup opener in Sacramento turns ugly tonight following the Republic FC’s second goal of the game, ends up a 2-0 victory over El Farolito.

The match, with the postgame melee, had 13 misconducts, 3 ejections. El Farolito players going after fans in the stands after. pic.twitter.com/LD0gt58mEr

— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) March 19, 2026

There were no reports of injuries.

KCRA 3 has reached out to U.S. Soccer for comment.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel